The Cutting Edge

THE BEAT GOES ON. Word has been received that the Contraloría General de la República de Costa Rica has officially authorized the sale of INBioParque to SINAC (Sistema Nacional de Áreas de Conservación), which will continue the operation of the facility later this year. As for the INBio collections (the part we most care about): the Museo Nacional is studying the possibility of moving them to a building in downtown San José. Our understanding is that the old Banco Anglo building on Avenida Dos, diagonal to the Teatro Nacional, is one of several under consideration.

HOT OFF THE PRESSES! Costa Rican entomologist and biographer Luko Hilje Quirós has announced the publication of his latest book, entitled Trópico agreste: la huella de los naturalistas alemanes en la Costa Rica del siglo XIX. Five years in the making, Luko’s magnum opus (to date!) spans 868 pages and includes nearly 500 illustrations, many never before published. Although we have not yet seen the book, a brief summary provided by the author promises an absorbing account of the adventures and contributions of scientists and naturalists such as Julián Carmiol, Alexander von Frantzius, and Karl Hoffmann, featuring many other luminaries, of various nationalities, with whom they interacted. The volume is being offered at the bargain price of ₵25,000 (roughly $50, when last we checked) and can be purchased at various locales in Costa Rica, as well as via the Internet at:

TRANSITIONS. By now, most of our readers will have learned of the passing of William R. Anderson (MICH), on 2 November, 2013, in Ann Arbor, MI. Such was the stature of the man. Bill was the reigning international authority on Malpighiaceae and left an indelible mark on neotropical floristics, especially with the characteristically authoritative and scrupulously edited family treatments that he contributed to numerous regional floras, including Flora de Nicaragua and the Manual. He last visited Costa Rica in 2000, as far as we can recall [see The Cutting Edge 7(2): 2, April 2000]. Bill is survived by his wife Christiane, a distinguished systematic botanist in her own right, and their daughter Rebecca. Our hearts go out to the entire family. And this just in as we go to press: we very much regret having to report the passing, at 8:30 AM on this very day (30 January), of our dear friend and esteemed colleague Jorge Gómez-Laurito, longtime curator of the USJ herbarium and contributor of Cyperaceae and various other treatments for the Manual. Jorge had been in failing health for the past year or so, and our only consolation is that his suffering has come to an end. He will be cremated, and his ashes carried to Turrialba, his beloved hometown.